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4.11.2012

Egypt's muddled constitution-making process continues to befuddle. Yesterday the Supreme Administrative Court suspended the constituent assembly as unrepresentative and in violation of Article 60 of the constitutional declaration passed in 2011. The decision, which carried no explanation, is a bit puzzling as Article 60 does not provide any criteria for membership of the 100-member assembly. Rather, it is simply procedural, describing the appointment process in general terms and the timeline for drafting and adoption.

The court case resulted from parliament's decision to select the assembly itself, and to populate half the seats with its own membership. An Advisory Council of Supreme Council of the Armed Forces criticized parliament's decision in this regard. Secular and liberal groups had already boycotted the assembly, as had Al-Azhar mosque. So now it is back to the drawing board.